Pusher plate having roller bearing for slicing machines



Get. 12, I954 C. KLINGENS PUSHER PLATE HAVING ROLLER BEARING FOR SLICINGMACHINES Filed Sept. 25, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VEN T 0R:

QZBNELIS KLINGENS fll w ATT'YS Oct. 12, 1954 c. KLINGENS 2,691,397

PUSHER PLATE HAVING ROLLER BEARING FOR SLICING MACHINES Filed Sept. 25,1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR: CORNELIS KLINGENS ATT'YS C. KLINGENSOct. 12, I954 PUSHER PLATE HAVING ROLLER BEARING FOR SLICING MACHINES 4Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Sept. 25, 1950 INVENTOR. CORNELIS KLINGENS ATT'YSOct. 12, 1954 c. KLINGENS 2,691,397

PUSHER PLATE HAVING ROLLER BEARING FOR SLICING MACHINES Filed Sept. 25,1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 IN V EN TOR.

CORNELIS KLINGENS BY 4 4 ,5

ATT'YS Patented Oct. 12, I954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PUSHER PLATEHAVING ROLLER BEARING FOR SLICING MACHINES Cornelis Klingens, La Porte,Incl., assignorto U. S. Slicing Machine Company, Inc., La Porte, Ind., acorporation of Indiana.

Application September 25. 1950, Serial No. 186,646

The present invention relates to slicing machines in general and inparticular to a novel meat table construction for slicing machines ofthe rotary knife type.

The improved food table construction comprising the present invention isapplicable to slicing machines of the general type shown and describedin a copending application of Cornelis Klingens, the present applicant,and James Leslie Foster,

Claims. (01. 146-102) slicing machine of the type outlined above, is toprovide a holding means which cooperates with the pusher bearinginstrumentalities and particularly with one of the food penetratingprongs provided on the pusher member for holding the pusher member in anout-of-the-way position when not in use and when it is desired toutilize the entire surface of the food table.

Still another object of the invention is to pro- Serial No. 747,994,filed May 14, 1947 now Patent vide'a gravity feed food table for slicingmachines No. 2,563,120 issued August 7, 1 51, and assigned of the typeillustrated in the above mentioned to the present 'assignee, and also inthe patent application and patent in which the angle existt0 Meyer N 2,d ted September 27, 1 4 ing between the operative planes of the foodtable the structure of both applicants having associated sides is soproportioned that improved gravity feed therewith a food table of t eype d h of the foodstufl undergoing slicing will be at patentedstructure of Meyer having associated tained. therewith a food pusherslidable along the food Yet another object of the invention is toprotable. vide a food table for slicing machines having a It is amongthe principal objects of the present thumb guard associated therewithwhich is invention to provide a slicing machine of the type formed witha viewing opening therethrough in shown in the above-mentionedapplication and order to enable the operator to visually ascertainpatent having associated therewith an improved the nature of the cuttingoperation on the foodfOOd pusher Which is provi e w h nove b arin stuffas the cutting knife penetrates the latter. means for slidablysupporting the pusher on the The provision of a food table constructionfor food table. slicing machines which is relatively simple in its Amorespecific object of the invention is toproconstruction; one which ispossessed of a minivide an improved slide bearing construction for mumnumber of moving parts and which consethe food pusher wherein thebearing elements are quently is unlikely to get out of order; one whicheasily assembled and disassembled for purposes is rugged and durable andwhich consequently will of inspection, cleaning, repair or replacement.Withstand rough usage; one which will readily Another object of theinvention is to provide handle a large variety of foodstuffs; one whicha slide bearing construction for the food pusher may be manufactured ata relatively low cost; including a slide rod and sleeve bearing thereforand one which is pleasing in its design and atand in which the sleevehearing has associated tractive in its appearance are further desirabletherewith a caged roller bearing unit which is features that have beenborne in mind in the proapa f adjustm nt on th uide rod by means ductionand development of the present invention. 1" Single k 1p pe at vo vin aSin le In the accompanying four sheets of drawings take-up screw.forming a part of this specification,

Another object of the invention is to provide Fig. 1 is a perspectiveview of a slicing machine a slide bearing construction for the meatpusher having a food table constructed in accordance in which many ofthe operative parts thereof with the principles of the presentinvention; may be constructed of light sheet metal stampings Fig. 2 isan enlarged end elevational view taken thereby materially reducing thecost of. manufacfrom the plane indicated by the lines 2-'2 of Fig. turethereof. 1 and in the direction of the arrows;

Another object of the invention is to provide Fig. 3 is a sectional viewtaken substantially a slide bearing for the food pusher which not alongthe line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

only will permit the pusher to be swung to an Fig. 4 is an enlargeddetail perspective view of out-of-the'-way position to clear the foodtable the food table showing a rectilinear block of foodand permit freeuse of its entire surface, but stun applied thereto; which,additionally, will serve to guide the food Fig. 5 is an end elevationalview taken from pusher into its out-of-the-way position when d'etheplane indicated by the line 55 of Fig. 4 and sired, while at the sametime preventing acciin the direction of the arrows; dental displacementor dislodgment of the food Fig. 6 is an exploded view of a food pusherbearpusher from its support on the food table. ing sleeve assemblyemployed in connection with A still further object of the invention, ina the present invention;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the plane indicated bythe line T--! of Fig. 6 in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 8 is an end elevational view of the food table showing the foodpusher construction in side elevation;

Fig. 9 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially along the line9-9 of Fig. 8; and

Fig. 10 is a top plan view of the structure shown in Fig. 9.

In all of the above described views, like characters of reference areemployed to designate like parts throughout.

The food table construction comprising the present invention ispossessed of four features of novelty, all of which cooperate with oneanother to produce a food table which, when associated with a slicingmachine of the type shown in the above mentioned patent to Meyer, wilifunction to slice a block of foodstuff more efficiently than hasheretofore been possible. Among these points of novelty are a novel formof beering construction for the food pusher element, a latch mechanismmade possible by the use of the novel form of bearing for retaining thefood pusher in an out of the way position when not in use, a food tableform wherein the angle existing between the food table sides is such asto permit a better gravity feed of the foodstuff and food pusher duringslicing operations, and a novel thumb guard construction which willpermit visual inspection of the foodstufi directly in the vicinity ofthe cutting operations. These features of novelty, in so far aspracticable, will be described and discussed in the order named.

General description The slicing machine comprising the present inventioninvolves in its general organization a supporting structure or mainframe it (Fig. l) which may be formed as an aluminum or other metalliccasting. The frame it includes an upstanding casing 12 having a motorhousing section I l adapted to enclose therein the driving motor (notshown) for the usual circular rotary knife it which is supported forrotation about an inclined axis by means of a knife box it projectinglaterally from the housing section it. An inclined food table it of theV-shaped type is arranged perpendicular to the slicin knife 56 so that ablock of foodstuff carried by the food table will be fed by gravity tothe cutting plane of the knife for cutting slices from the piece or"foodstuif. The inclined V-shaped food table is removably mounted on abracket 2 (Figs. 1 and 4) which is connected to a slidable carriage 22whereby the food table may be reciprocated in a linear path. Amanipulating handle 23 is attached to the bracket for the purpose ofpermitting manual reciprocation of the bracket and food table in amanner well known in the art. A gauge plate 24 is provided for thepurpose of gauging the thickness of slices to be cut from the foodstuffby the slicing knife 16. A food pusher in the form of an irregularlyshaped platelike member designated in its entirety at 2% is adapted tocooperate with the food table for the purpose of assisting the block offoodstuff to move by gravity downwardly along the food table it towardthe slicing knife, or for the purpose of permitting the operator toforcibly move the foodstuif toward the plane of the slicing knife whendesirable or necessary without actually manually touching the foodstuffitself. A slice receiving table 28 is provided beneath and be" hind theslicing knife [6 and gauge plate 24 for the purpose of receiving thereonslices of the foodstuffs severed from the main body thereof. A thumbguard 30 extends downwardly from one side of the food table [8 for thepurpose oi preventing the thumb or fingers of the operator from cominginto contact with the circular knife. An adjusting knob 32 is providedand is operatively connected to the gauge plate 2 5 for the purpose ofadjusting the position thereof relative to the plane of the cuttingknife it. A knife sharpener mechanism designated in its entirety at 34is provided for the purpose of sharpening and burring the edge of thecircular knife 56 when required.

The arrangement of parts briefly outlined above forms no part of thepresent invention, such an arrangement being either conventional orcovered in the above mentioned application and patent and no claim ismade herein to this arrangement, the novelty of the present inventionresiding rather in the several features of novelty briefly mentionedabove and which will be more fully described and subsequently claimed.

The food pusher and its bearing support Referring now to the drawings indetail and in particular to Figs. 4 and 6, the food pusher 26 is adaptedto cooperate with the foodstuff support which in the present instancecomprises an inclined V-shaped trough 40 having inclined substancesupporting side surfaces 2 and id. The surfaces 42 and M are preferablyintegrally formed and are disposed at an angle to each other which isslightly in excess of a right-angle for a purpose that will be madeclear presently. The trough 48 is rigidly, adjustably and detachablyheld in position on the supporting bracket 2G and the latter is providedwith a head portion 46 which likewise is of v-shape design toaccommodate reception therein of the trough 40. The means for securingthe trough 48 to the head 46 is a plurality of adjusting screws, two ofwhich have been disclosed herein at 41. The bottom of the trough isinclined inwardly and downwardly with respect to a vertical plane and ismaintained substantially at right angles to the plane of the cuttingknife to permit the substance or foodstuif undergoing slicing to be fedby gravity to the slicing knife It. The handle 23 on the trough-likehead portion &6 permits the food table in its entirety, together withits supporting bracket 2!}, to be shifted to and fro in a linear pathpast the slicing knife Ii: to permit slices to be cut from the foodstufiin the trough ii). The handle 23 is inclined downwardly and outwardlyfrom the head portion 46 of the bracket 2b to an angle which willmaintain the hand of the operator removed from the working edge of theknife IE, thus minimizing the possibility of accidental engagement ofthe knife with any part of the hand. The bracket 28 is slidably mountedon a longitudinal guide rod (not shown) beneath the frame, in the usualmanner of mounting food tables, to permit such linca reciprocation ofthe food table. The bracket 28 is of the two-piece adjustable type and aclamp-- ing knob 50 serves to permit adjustment of one part relative tothe other for initial adjustment of the food table relative to theslicing knife.

The food pusher 26 is somewhat similar in its design to that shown inthe above mentioned Patent No. 2,482,787 and includes a plate 52 withits bottom edges formed to conform to the shape of the food table trough40 so that its lower edges will contact the surfaces 42 and 44. Theplate 52 is formed with a series of teeth 53 thereon designated toengage the foodstuff in the trough 40. An outer bearing or sleeve 54 ofnovel construction is adapted to slide on a cylindrical rod 56 and thesleeve 54 may be integrally formed with or connected to the plate 52 byan offset angle bracket 58. The tubular rod 56 is suitably supported bymeans of a pair of ears 60 and 62 integrally formed on the side 44 ofthe food table.

The sleeve 54 is provided with a central bore 64 (Figs. 6 and 7) thereinof reduced diameter, the opposite ends of which communicate withenlarged bore portions 66 at the end regions of the sleeve. The neteffect of the reduced bore 64 and the enlarged bores 66 is to provide atubular sleeve-like member having cup-shaped recesses,

in the opposite ends thereof which communicate with each other throughthe bore 64 and which are provided with flat bottom surfaces orshoulders 6B surrounding the bore 64 of reduced diameter.

Each of the recesses afforded by the bores 66 is adapted to receivetherein a tightly fitting roller bearing cage I of generally triangularshape in cross section. Each cage I0 is formed from a thin sheet ofresilient strip stock bent upon itself to provide three generally fiatapex portions I2 arranged substantially 60 apart and each of whichmerges into a pair of parallel sides 14. A stub shaft I6 extends acrosseach of the adjacent pairs of sides I4 and carries thereon a roller TIwhich is disposed between the sides I4. The sheet of strip stock fromwhich the cage I0 is formed is not continuous and the ends 80 thereofare separated from each other, thus providing a slit 82 in the cagestructure which permits the cage to have a certain degree of flexibilitywhereby it may be expanded or contracted to bring the axes of therollers 11 closer to each other or to spread these axes apart. Thereduced bore 64 of the sleeve 54 is adapted to loosely receive thereinthe bearing rod 56 so that the sleeve may slid along the rod in eitherdirection. Each cage I0 is positioned within its respective recess inthe sleeve 54 so that theapex I2 of the cage remote from the slit 82 isin register with an adjusting screw 84 which passes through the wall ofthe enlarged bore 66 and bears against the apex I2. With the adjustingscrew 84 loosened,

the three apices I2 may bear against the inner wall of the bore 66 withthe rollers 11 widely separated so as to admit the bearing rod 56 in thereduced bore 64, in which it has a loose fit. Upon tightening of theadjusting screw 84, the particular apex of the cage I0 with which it isin register is forced inwardly of the bore 66 so that its respectiveroller 11 is moved inwardly of the bore 66 to engage the rod 56 andforce the same into engagement with the two other rollers 11. Thus, thethree rollers 11 may be caused to lightly engage or bind the rod 56 sothat there is no lateral play of the sleeve 54 on the rod 56 and so thatthe six rollers carried by the two bearing cages I0 may form the solebearing support for the bearing sleeve 54 upon the rod 56.

The body portion of the sleeve 54 is provided with a radial slit 86therein which extends completely through the sleeve 54 from theperiphery thereof to the internal bore 64, and the direction of extentof the slit 86 is such that its outer region is in close proximity tothe angle bracket 58 of the food pusher 26. members 90 in the form offlat ring-like washers having a radial slit 92 formed therein areadapted A pair of retaining 6 to be received on the ends of the bearingsleeve 54 and secured in position by means of anchoring screws 94 whichare threadedly received in threaded openings 95 provided in the shoulderportions 68 of the bearing sleeve for retaining the cage members I0 inposition within the recesses 66. Each of the cap members is providedwith a central bore 96 which fits closely around the bearing rod 56 andserves in a large measure to prevent entrance of food particles or otherforeign substances into the bearing sleeve 54. The slits 92 provided inthe cap members 99 are maintained in register with the slit 86 providedin the body portion of the sleeve 54.

When the food pusher 26 is in its operative position within the V-shapedtrough 40, the slit 86 in the sleeve bearing member 54 and the slits 92of the retaining members 90 are in register with the upper ear 62 bymeans of which the bearing rod 56 is attached to the food table so thatthe pusher member may be slid rearwardly and upwardly to cause thebearing member 54 to pass completely over the ear 62 to an extremeposition wherein the upper cap member 90 engages an annular flange orshoulder 98 in the form of a split washer provided adjacent the end ofthe rod 56 and which serves as a limit stop to prevent complete removalof the bearing sleeve 54 from the rod 56.

With the bearing sleeve 54 in its upper limiting position wherein thecap member 90 engages the shoulder 98, the food pusher 60 just clearsthe upper end of the trough 40 so that the pusher may be swung in thedirection of the arrows indicated in Fig. 8 to a lower dotted lineposition wherein it assumes an out of the way position out of registerwith the trough 40.

To insure compactness of the food table as a whole when the food pusherassumes its out-ofthe way position as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 8,the body portion thereof is provided with a substantially right angularrecess I00 therein, thus providing side edges I02 and I04 which closelyunderlie the sides 44 and 42, respectively, of the trough 40 when thefood pusher 26 is in its outof-the-way position.

The food pusher hanger construction I In order to retain the food pusher26 in its out-of-the-way position, a supporting clip I06 is welded orotherwise secured to the underneath surface of the side 44 of the trough40 and extends slightly beyond the extreme upper edge thereof. A hangerelement I08 in the form of a metal strip is secured by means of screws II0 to the food pusher 26 adjacent one edge thereof and projects beyondthis edge and is designed to rest upon the clip I06 when the food pusher26 is moved to its out-of-the-way position. The extent of the clip I06and the extent of the hanger element I08 are such that when the uppercap member 90 is in engagement with the limit stop or shoulder 98 on therod 56, the end regions of the clip I06 are positioned directly in thepath of movement of the hanger I08 as the food pusher is swung towardits out-of-the-way position so that the food pusher may not be swungbeyond its out-of-the-way position, and when not in use it must at alltimes assume its out-of-the-way position with the hanger I08 restingupon the supporting clip I06.

The hanger I08, as shown in Figs. 9 and 10, is in the form of a flatstrip of metal which is attached by means of screws I I0 to the foodpusher 26 and the portion thereof which, overlies the 7, edge of thefood pusher is in the form of a pointed prong I I2, this prong extendingin the general direction of the teeth 53 on the pusher body 50. Theoverlying prong l 12 in effect, therefore, constitutes an additionaltooth on the pusher plate 553 and is adapted to penetrate the foodstuffor substance in the trough 36 when the pusher is in its operativeposition within the trough.

A recess I [die gouged out of the metal of the food pusher 26 beneaththe hanger or strap I08 and provides a clearance to facilitate cleaningof the parts in the vicinity of the hanger, as well as to accommodatereception of the extreme end of the clip m6 when the food pusher is inits outof-the-way position.

The thumb guard Referring now to Fig. 1, the thumb guard 39 is sosituated on the food table it as to partially overlie the peripheralregions of the circular rotary knife 16. Ordinarily, the thumb guard asprovided on conventional slicing machines is imerforate and the actualpenetration of the foodstuff by the knife is concealed from the eye ofthe operator. According to the present invention, however, a pair ofopenings l2s are formed in the thumb guard adjacent its juncture withthe side :32 of the food table, thus exposing the extreme peripheralregion of the knife to the eye through the openings, so that theoperation of the knife during slicing operation will be apparent to theoperator. In actual practice it has been found that a perfectlysharpened knife will penetrate the foodstuff on the food table and makea clean cut with no tailings or shreds of the foodstuff being present inthe vicinity of the cut. Particularly where the foodstuff is in the formof meat, as for example bacon, ham or meat loaf of one variety oranother, if the knife edge is not as sharp as it actually should be forperfect cutting operations, this fact is indicated by the presence oftailings or shreds of the meat which appear to hang onto the substanceundergoing slicing in the vicinity of the knife or to fly off from theknife indiscriminately. Ordinarily, with an imperforate thumb guard itis difficult for the operator to visually ascertain the condition of thecutting knife. Sometimes he is aware of the fact that the knife is notfunctioning properly when he perceives the presence of tailings as theyfly outwardly from beneath the thumb guard. However, these tailings donot always loosen themselves from the food substance undergoing slicingand because of the fact that the thumb guard is imperforate theirpresence is not apparent to the operator. By

means of the slots lit provided in the thumb guard at a region directlyoverlying the peripheral regions of the knife, the operator may at anytime observe the action of the knife as it penetrates the foodstuff anddetermine whether the knife needs sharpening.

Food table trough construction Referring now to Figs. 2, 5 and 8, meansare illustrated wherein a better gravity feed of the foodstufi' towardthe knife along the food table may be obtained. It has been found thatin connection with certain foodstuff, especially cheese of the softervariety, when the angle between the two sides t2 and l i of the foodtable is a right angle, difficulty has been encountered in obtaining asatisfactory gravity feed due to the fact that the rectilinear block ofcheese tends to adhere to both sides of the food table and will notreadily slide down the incline provided for it. It has been found,however, that if the angle between the two sides 32 and i l be increasedby a very slight angle, as for example 1 (and in any event less than 3),making the total angle between the two sides 91 instead of theconventional much of the frictional resistance offered to the movementof the foodstuff between the sides of the food table will be eliminatedand the block of foodstuff will readily slide along the food tabletoward the plane of the cutting knife. Since the angle designated at 0in Fig. 8 is slightly in excess of 90, as for example 91", and since avertical plane extending through the apex of the food tablesubstantially bisects thisangle, the greater portion of the mass of theblock of foodstuff is supported at the bottom of the V-shaped trough andwhether the block tends to lean in one direction or another very littlefrictional resistance to sliding movement thereof down the inclineprovided for it is offered. Where relatively soft blocks of foodstuffare concerned there may be a tendency for gravitational distortion ofthe foodstuff as it rests in the V-shaped trough of the food table, thustending to spread the lower sides of the foodstuff outwardly so thatboth sides thereof engage both sides 42 and M- of the food table. Inother words, due to the mass distribution of the block of foodstuff dueto gravity when placed in the trough it, the cross sectional area of theblock of foodstuff will change from a true square or rectangle to a wideangled parallelogram, so that both lower sides of the block of substancewill engage both sides 32 and 3-3 of the trough id coextensively.However, due to the inherent mass resiliency or nature of the foodstufitending to resist such gravitational deformation of the foodstuff, thepressure on each side of the food table will be less than would be thecase were the angle between the trough sides a true right angle. Theactual degree of angularity between the two sides of the food table overand above a right angle becomes critical at approximately 93, and it hasbeen found that where an angle in excess of 93 is employed the foodstuffwill tend to favor either one side of the food table or the other andrest fairly heavily on the favored side so as to defeat the very purposeof the slightly widened angle between the sides beyond the conventional90 angle. It is within the scope of the present invention that avertical plane passing through the bottom of the V-shaped trough as neednot exactly bisect the angle of.

the trough, it being suiiicient that this plane merely substantiallybisect the angle of the trough. As actually manufactured, it has beenfound that if one or the other sides of the trough makes a 45 angle withthe vertical plane, the angle with the other side of the trough mayassimilate any angularity in excess of 90" Changes may be made in theform, construction and arrangement of parts from those disclosed hereinwithout in any way departing from the spirit of the invention orsacrificing any of the attendant advantages thereof, provided, however,that such changes fall within the scope of the claims appended hereto.

The invention is hereby claimed as follows: 1. A food pusherconstruction for cooperation with the food table of a slicing machinecomprising a cylindrical rod secured to the food table, a

tubular bearing member surrounding said rod and slidable therealong inopposite directions, a

food pusher carried on said bearing member, an

anti-friction bearing unit disposed between the bearing member and rod,said anti-friction bearing unit comprising a deformable strip bent toform a cage member secured within said tubular bearing member and aplurality of bearing rollers mounted for free rotation within said cagemember about respective axes which are spaced from and extend at'rightangles to the axis of said rod, the peripheries of said rollers abuttingsaid rod tangentially, and means associated with one of said rollers foradjusting the position of all of said rollers in a direction radially ofsaid rod.

2. A food pusher construction for cooperation with the food table of aslicing machine comprising a cylindrical rod secured to the food table,a tubular bearing member surrounding said rod and slidable therealong inopposite directions, a food pusher carried on said bearing member, ananti-friction bearing unit disposed within said tubular bearing memberbetween the latter and the rod adjacent each end of the bearing member,said anti-friction unit comprising a yieldable spring metal strip bentupon itself to provide a bearing cage and a plurality of bearing rollersmounted for rotation within said cage member and bearing tangentiallyagainst said rod at spaced points therearound, and means for deformingthe metal of said cage to adjust the position of at least one of saidrollers.

3. A food pusher construction for cooperation with the food table of aslicing machine comprising a cylindrical rod secured to the food table,a tubular bearing member surrounding said rod and slidable therealong inopposite directions, a food pusher carried on said bearing member, an

anti-friction bearing unit disposed within said 1 tubular bearing memberbetween the latter and the rod adjacent each end of the bearing member,said anti-friction unit comprising a yieldable spring metal strip bentupon itself to provide a bearing cage and a plurality of bearing rollersmounted for rotation within said cage member and bearing tangentillayagainst said rod at spaced points therearound, and means extendingthrough said tubular bearing member and engaging said cage member fordeforming the latter to adjust the position of at least one of saidrollers.

4. A food pusher construction for cooperation with the food table of aslicing machine comprising a cylindrical rod secured to the food table,a tubular bearing member surrounding said rod and slidable therealong inopposite directions, a food pusher carried on said bearing member, ananti-friction bearing unit disposed within said tubular bearing memberbetween the latter and the rod adjacent each end of the bearing member,said anti-friction unit comprising a yieldable spring metal strip bentupon itself to provide a bearing cage and a plurality of bearing rollersmounted for rotation within said cage member and bearing tangentiallyagainst said rod at spaced points therearound, and means extendingthrough said tubular bearing member and engaging said cage member fordeforming the latter to adjust the position of at least one of saidrollers, said means also serving to anchor the cage within said tubularbearing member.

5. A food pusher construction for cooperation with the food table of aslicing machine comprising a cylindrical rod secured to the food table,a tubular bearing member surrounding said rod and slidable therealong inopposite directions, a food pusher carried on said bearing member, ananti-friction bearing unit disposed within said bearing member betweenthe latter and the rod adjacent each end of the bearing member, saidanti-friction bearing units forming the sole sliding connection betweenthe bearing unit and the rod, said anti-friction units each comprising asheet metal strip bent upon itself to provide a plurality of supportingsides arranged in pairs, a bearing roller rotatably supported on anddisposed between each pair of supporting sides, the periphery of each ofsaid rollers being adapted to engage the surface of said rod intractional sliding relationship, and an adjusting screw extendingthrough said tubular bearing member and engaging a portion of said cagefor deforming the shape of the latter to adjust the tension of saidrollers on said rod.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 1,698,868 Wolfi' Jan. 15, 1929 1,825,711 Campbell Oct. 6, 19312,010,944 Campbell Aug. 13, 1935 2,058,519 Siversten Oct. 27, 19362,072,677 Johnston Mar. 2, 1937 2,286,772 Van Berkel June 16, 19422,482,787 Meyer Sept. 27, 1949 2,492,885 Pfister et a1. Dec. 27, 19492,525,712 Neighbour Oct. 10, 1950 2,573,859 Meeker et al Nov. 6, 19512,598,739 Zimmermann June 3, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date695,532 Germany Aug. 27, 1940 600,960 Great Britain Apr. 23, 1948

